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This award-nominated performer the celebrated Diane Ladd has died aged 89.

The actor, whose credits spanned Chinatown, passed away at home in Ojai, California. The news was shared via an announcement by her offspring, Academy Award-winning star her daughter Laura Dern.

Laura Dern, who appeared with her mother in various films including Wild at Heart and Rambling Rose, described her as “my amazing hero and my profound gift of a mother”, stating that she was by her side during her final moments.

“She was an exceptional mother, daughter, grandmother, performer, creative as well as compassionate soul that only dreams could have seemingly created,” she expressed. “We were fortunate to know her. She is now with the angels.”

Initial Roles and Breakthrough

Ladd’s early career included small roles on television series such as The Fugitive whereas the 1970s had her appearing with actor Jack Nicholson in the film Chinatown.

During that year, the year 1974, she appeared with actress Ellen Burstyn in the Martin Scorsese celebrated comedy drama Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore. Her acting brought Ladd an Academy Award nomination as best supporting actress.

1980s and Beyond

In the 1980s, she starred in crime thriller Black Widow, a suspense story plus comedy sequel National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and appeared on the sitcom Alice, a comedy program based on her earlier movie.

In the subsequent decade, she was given a further best supporting actress Academy Award nomination for her part in the David Lynch film Wild at Heart in which she portrayed the mom of her biological child Laura Dern’s role. The following year she received another nomination for her acting in the film Rambling Rose which included Dern.

“This was the picture that the late Princess Diana picked as her top choice, and she flew Laura and I to England for a premiere and a party dedicated to us,” Ladd said regarding Rambling Rose. “And she sat between us, taking our hands, and weeping, viewing our performance.”

The nineties included parts in the comedy The Cemetery Club joining her again with Ellen Burstyn, the movie Primary Colors, a political comedy, starring John Travolta and the film by Alexander Payne Citizen Ruth where she acted as Laura Dern’s mom once more. Those years also saw her score nominations for Emmy Awards for performances in Dr Quinn, Medicine Woman, the show Grace Under Fire plus Touched by an Angel.

Partnerships with Her Daughter

She continued to star with her daughter in comedy drama Daddy and Them, a movie, the David Lynch project Inland Empire, a surreal film and Mike White’s dark comedy series Enlightened, a TV series. She additionally starred alongside Sandra Bullock, a star in 28 Days, a movie, Anthony Hopkins, a legend in The World’s Fastest Indian plus Jennifer Lawrence in Joy.

Subsequent TV appearances included the series Ray Donovan plus Young Sheldon.

Behind the Camera

She also authored and helmed the humorous movie Mrs Munck, a film that included herself and ex-husband Bruce Dern, an actor. “Bruce is an excellent performer,” she said. “I was honored to direct him in a film. Actually, I stand as the only woman in history to helm a film with her ex. I humorously say: ‘I say ladies, should you desire retribution, direct your ex-husband.’ Though I’m just teasing.”

Personal Life

She happened to be the third cousin of the great Tennessee Williams, whom she described as “a major inspiration throughout my life”.

In 2018, she received an incorrect diagnosis with a respiratory illness and told she only had half a year left but made a full recovery once her daughter shifted her to another medical facility.

“When you use your pain and not let it back up like an injury, instead apply it to discover, to clarify the journey for yourself and others, then you are triumphing,” Ladd said.